GForce Software OB-E v2: Oberheim 8-Voice emulation endorsed by Tom
GForce Software has introduced OB-E v2 with Tom Oberheim’s personal endorsement and could be the best synth you’ve ever played.
OB-E v2
Nothing ever sounds this good right off the bat. Those first 4 presets were like ambrosia pouring into my ears and it keeps getting better. Once you start to orientate yourself, figure out what’s going on it just gets more and more powerful. I can’t stop smiling – this is nuts!
Right, just to get this Windows sized chip off my shoulder: As a non-AppleMac user of computers, I was denied the pleasure of experiencing the original OB-E Oberheim 8-Voice emulation. With version 2 GForce Software has released a PC version and now the rest of us can enjoy the wonders of this machine. Did we miss much? I don’t really care because in about 5 minutes of playing with version 2 I knew that this was the finest software synthesizer I had ever played.
Oberheim 8-Voice
First, the facts. OB-E v2 is an authentic emulation of the Oberheim 8-Voice synthesizer. The 8-Voice was made up of 8 SEM (Synthesizer Expansion Modules) monosynths strung together to create a polyphonic monster. The interesting thing was that these SEMs were independent, so you tuned each voice separately, they all had their own filter and modulations which is a very different approach to how polysynths are made now. Each SEM would sound slightly different which would create a character of such analogue and organic nature that it sounds like nothing else.
Through the magic of software, GForce were able to make the playing and sound designing experience a bit less cumbersome. The main ones are being able to copy/paste module settings so you can quickly spread an idea across all SEMs and tie them together, and the ability to group them, zoom in on a single SEM and control them all from there. There are also different play modes, a third oscillator for modulation, velocity, polyphonic aftertouch and MPE support.
GForce Software OB-E v2
Version 2
With version 2 things haven’t changed massively. The look and layout remain the same because it’s still based on the same hardware. What has been massaged is the delicate nature of the different character and inaccuracies found between SEMs. There’s a new Vintage knob and a Refined Detune parameter which, under the guidance of Tom Oberheim and Marcus Ryle (former Oberheim developer) lets you dial in more realistic musical inaccuracies.
The result prompted Tom to say:
“I was pretty amazed by OB-E, it was pretty damn close right out of the shoot. It was “wow!“. I like listening to that. With OB-E v2, it’s like you have the hardware with you.”
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Marcus also has some nice things to say about it:
“The first time I heard OB-E I knew it was special. Its authentic tonal character and musicality makes it the closest thing to analog hardware that I’ve ever experienced. It’s been really gratifying to refine this powerful foundation with GForce Software in order to capture the few remaining nuances of component tolerances and calibration that add just a bit more magic into this very impressive piece of software.”
There are other improvements like the great sounding Matrix Reverb, a Drum Mode with 10 drum kits, more presets and a scalable and more flexible UI.
Available now
The GForce Software Oberheim OB-E v2 is a fantastic piece of work on a classic and unique sounding synthesizer that’s a joy to play. RRP is £179.99 but you can get it at an introductory price of £119.99 and it comes in standalone and VST, AU and AAX plugin versions for macOS and Windows. It’s a free update to all version 1 owners.
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9 responses to “GForce Software OB-E v2: Oberheim 8-Voice emulation endorsed by Tom”
How is it different from Voltage Modular’s version ?
I was just playing the two side by side and both of them sound fantastic. I think perhaps the flow, layout and Vintage knob effect on the OB-E v2 gives it an edge but they are quite close. I might see if I can do a video comparison at some point.
A comparison could be interesting – at 90€ (the difference) it sounds like a pricey edge 🙂
Trolled by GForce!
After watching the heartwarming video where the ledge and Tom Oberheim speaks about his career and some of the people along the way that help the success of many iconic musical instruments that some of us are still using today.
At the end of the video we were sort of left with a cliffhanger the possibility of something new coming from Oberheim now that he got his name back…
O look what we see today!
Tom wearing the same clothes from his eye watering performance of the video that came out last week from GForce..
This plug-in. Underwhelming for sure.
someone caught a cold case of optimism bias ahah “toms gonna release a new synth just for me” haha
You got so used to digital vst synth sound that you forgot all about what sound is…these things never have proper envelope and filter, it’s amazing how people compare hardware with software like this and see no difference.
“could be the best synth you’ve ever played” but it’s not, have go at DSP56300, real business , actual virus replica, not emulation.
So, you berate me about digital vst synths and then say that a software emulation of a virtual analog synth (that’s also software) is better than this model of an analogue synth? The Virus was great, I had one on my Powercore, but honestly every virtual analog VST since then has sounded like it. So, in terms of software synths, this was a joy to play – sounds fantastic. Your mileage may vary.
@ Robin Vincent:
I don’t think anybody here berated anybody. Unless you count my typographical error.
@The Real Troll:
Yes that was me! And by the way I didn’t mean to speak negatively of GForce or Dave’s efforts. He is a legend at what he does.
Apparently a lot of people or just a little let down there there was no new hardware… Or will there be? Will there be an OB-16?
Will somebody continue the 2 Voice Pro line?
The DSP 56300, is great… I even saw a video the other day somebody ran the output from their audio interface into a modular Eurorack… made the Osiris sounds so good and creamy.
The VCF | VCA provide so much character and individuality.
I actually see the new frontier of analog/digital hybrid synthesizers…
However right now where we stand digital is still digital and there is a line in the sand where it stops. And the sound of the Analog‘s, well that is still the real deal.
We wouldn’t have the resurgence of Analog in the golden era renaissance part two where we are right now of Analog… Without digital.
And of course there would be no digital without the Analog‘s that they modeled… Unless you’re an additive synthesis sound engine, PDFM or wavetable.
A 100% true analog signal path from end to end, gets you closer to God.
OK thank you as you were.
Well, I can’t argue with that. Except I’m confused about you saying the DSP 56300 is the best in the world, but then analog is best, but what? I think it’s ok to love all sorts of sound generation methods. It doesn’t have to be analog or hardware to move me – but it helps 😀 I’d love to see some Oberheim hardware too but the guy has earned the right to retire and fiddle with stuff without expectation.
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